Critical Care

Hospitals have never held much charm for me ... until now! I have discovered the cure with Candace Calvert's Mercy Hospital Series and suddenly, the ER is my favorite place to be. Seldom has an author hooked me in so quickly and completely as Ms. Calvert has with her exceptional debut novel, Critical Care, a heart-wrenching glimpse into the gritty reality of a trauma center and characters so flesh and blood, that I literally teared up three times in the first 38 pages. With true-life medical drama, magical prose and enough romantic tension to spike a high-grade fever, Ms. Calvert is, hands-down, one of the best authors I have read in a long, LONG time.

Candace Calvert catches your attention from the first sentence through to the last word with a refreshing voice in medical romance. The rhythm of her wording mesmerizes the reader along with authentic technical expertise and lyrical prose. For a debut novel, CRITICAL CARE more than entertains. It peels back a view of the life of nurses and doctors in today's medical system. And yes, like another reviewer, I read all the Cherry Ames nurse stories when I was a young girl, and Candace brings us back to that good story telling ability to place us inside the characters' experience. We do escape into the world of Claire, Erin, Sarah and Logan, and we come away with a genuine understanding of God's way not always being our way but the best way. It's a lesson we forget, and it is one each of the characters struggles with. CRITICAL CARE also uses story telling to show readers how vulnerable we all are to post traumatic symptoms because we have failed to deal with the ever mounting stress in our lives. It's our culture to "buck Up and keep marching," but there is a cost to that mind set, a serious cost. People are not ever-ready bunnies, yet firemen, policemen, paramedics, nurses, doctors, armed forces--they especially are expected to be iron-hard machines when dealing with life and death situations. It's an unreasonable expectation and more books like CRITICAL CARE help us adjust our expectations to more realistic levels. Hurrah for Candace Calvert!!! You've just won another fan.

As much as I hate doing this to you (I really don't:-), I just cannot wait any longer to introduce you to a new author to watch. Her years as an ER nurse give her story authenticity and depth, but her talent as a writer will put her on the best seller's list quickly. Meet Candace Calvert and her JUST DEBUTED novel, "Critical Care", the best of medical drama, hands down! Move over, McDreamy--McSnarky is in house, and he's SO much better than you:-) Claire Avery is back in the ER, but not willingly. After witnessing her own brother's tragic and painful death, the last place she wants to be is in a trauma center. But someone has to offer education to those who deal with some of the most stressful situations life can serve up. Her work in nursing education comes to a grinding halt after a heartbreaking tragedy rocks the hospital she's assigned to. Seems not many there are interested in her counseling skills. And even Claire is wondering if she still has anything to offer anyone in need. Logan Caldwell is a highly skilled ER doctor--he just doesn't have great people skills. He's not as bad as House, but he could be the kid brother! What walls are protecting Dr. Caldwell's heart, and how hard will God have to hammer to tear them down? Are Dr. Caldwell's high standards saving lives, but at the cost of his staff? Is everything Claire hears about the good doctor true, or is his reputation exaggerated? And is Candace Calvert's novel good enough to get us to turn off the TV and pick up reading? The answer to the last question is a resounding "YES!" I'm excited about this new series, and hope Candace has lots of stories in her. "Critical Care" gets five out of five bookmarks from me, with a purple stethoscope as a charm. I'm also voting it "Best Debut Novel of 2009". Yes, it's THAT good--but it doesn't release until June 2009 from Tyndale. I know, I'm mean--but you love me, don't you?? (EDITED: It's out NOW...what are you WAITING FOR?? I mean, "Grey's" is SO over! And this is SO WAY BETTER!!!) Be sure to put "Critical Care" on your shelf! And look forward to at least 2 more novels in this series from stellar debut author, Candace Calvert!

This book quickly found its way to my shelf of favorites. Admittedly, I've loved medical fiction since I was a kid reading Cherry Ames and Sue Barton. But some books in this genre can be ridiculously and annoyingly unrealistic and need to be classified as DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). Not this one. Candace Calvert shows she has a talent for crafting a wonderful story in an accurate setting, portraying believable characters with real-life crises and issues. The medical detail was authentic without being horrific. And the personalities are spot-on. I loved how the nurses referred to Dr. Caldwell (behind his back, of course!) as McSnarly. Unfortunately, I've worked with a doctor or two like that! As the events unfold and the characters work through the circumstances of the story, the patients aren't the only ones who experience healing. For an infusion of hope, get this book STAT - read it, & repeat dosage as necessary! I can't wait until the next one, Disaster Status, comes out!

Rush me to the ER - I'm in dire need of another instalment of Candace Calvert's Mercy Hospital series! Debut novelist Candace Calvert has a hit on her hands with Critical Care - no doubt about it. Medical dramas have fascinated television viewers for years but with the exception of Hannah Alexander and Harry Kraus M.D., Christian authors have rarely ventured into this area - Candace has now taken it by storm. Critical Care is a fast paced, character driven story overflowing with emotional tension, sparkling attraction and spiritual dynamics. While Candace uses the familiar doctor/nurse relationship her intense prose, charismatic characters and snappy dialogue result in a potent reading experience. Her own ER nursing experience is apparent in the authenticity of both the plot and technical details but they are never overwhelming. Loved this book and I will need oxygen until Disaster Status (working title) releases in January, 2010!